Bachelor’s in marketing

A bachelor’s degree in marketing can lead to an exciting and creative career. As a marketer you might work with video, website content, strategy, pricing, social media, customer polling, and even package design. There are a range of ways to specialize and diversify.

The demand for marketing specialists continues to point upwards, with a predicted 22% growth in employment between 2020-2030.

Discover the best undergraduate degrees in marketing to find the right fit for you.

What is a marketing major?

A marketing major is a program offered through the business school of most national universities. It teaches students about branding and the promotion of goods and services to the public or other businesses.

Is marketing a good major?

Marketing is an excellent choice of major because its graduates are in high demand. With the explosion of digital marketing over the last decade, many roles offer the flexibility of remote work. Marketing majors develop important skills, such as analysis, relationship management, sales, and creativity.

Bachelor’s in marketing salary

The statistics below compare the median earnings of marketing graduates against the total bachelor market, snapshotted 3 years after graduation. The higher median earnings of marketing graduates lead to a shorter “payback” period, the amount of time it takes marginal earnings to pay off the total median educational investment.

The table below compares how salaries perform over a longer period.

Bachelor’s in marketing – program basics

A bachelor’s in marketing is a 4-year degree program. Marketing programs are generally found in national universities with graduate programs in business. Marketing majors may have access to professors from the business school and can take advantage of courses from the wider business curriculum.

Admission requirements

Good academic performance in high school is important for getting into a bachelor’s in marketing program. Most universities look at your high school GPA and SAT or ACT scores, although COVID-19 has resulted in many colleges becoming test-optional.

The general admission requirements vary between colleges. Getting into an Ivy League school can be tough, while other programs accept talented and eager individuals without the need for perfect grades and test scores.

Types of program

There are 2 main types of undergraduate marketing degree: a bachelor of arts (B.A.) and a bachelor of science (B.S.). A B.A. in marketing offers a broader range of electives, touching upon all aspects of the marketing field. In contrast, a B.S. in marketing focuses more intensely on 1 specific marketing area, such as marketing research, brand management, or logistics management.

A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a marketing concentration is another alternative. This general business degree includes a strong marketing focus, but is not as marketing-specific as a B.S. or B.A. It is an excellent degree for students who wish to move into marketing management, or related positions where knowing how their department fits in the organization is necessary.

A Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Marketing is a newer program based on recent developments in the field. Digital marketing encompasses several different channels and platforms, using various media to target specific demographics. Specialized careers like digital media analyst, SEO specialist, user experience designer, and content marketing expert are examples of digital marketing positions currently in demand.

Courses

Courses differ between schools and programs, especially when it comes to electives. The overall aim is to develop analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills. This allows students to ascertain what customers want and how best to sell it to them.

Courses on a bachelor’s in marketing program may include:

• Business to business (B2B) marketing
• Marketing research
• Brand management
• Digital strategy
• Global marketing
• Product management
• Retail and sales management
• Pricing strategy
• Social media marketing
• Sustainable marketing
• Consumer behavior
• User experience design (UX)

Double majors and minors

Many marketing majors with defined career goals often minor in complementary subjects like art and graphic design, statistics and math, or English and creative writing. The most ambitious might double major, which involves intense study of 2 subjects simultaneously. This may be challenging but can increase competitiveness in the job market. Of all double majors, business is the most common paring with marketing, either as a double major or with marketing as a minor.

Should you get an online marketing degree?

Opportunities to complete a bachelor’s in marketing online have increased in recent years. Students report that these can foster similar collaboration to their in-class equivalent, while providing the same advancement opportunities.

The table below shows the current online offering for bachelor’s in marketing programs and compares this to other bachelor’s programs.

We’ve ranked the economic performance of the best marketing schools. Above is a snapshot of the top three best marketing schools for an undergraduate degree.

Paying for your marketing degree – cost, financial aid, and marketing scholarships

In terms of earnings and the time it takes to pay off student loans, public schools outperform elite marketing schools.

The above indicates that the average earnings of public school graduates are similar to the higher-priced private institutions. On average, your money goes much further at a public school, with graduates paying back loans much quicker.

Marketing scholarships and financial aid are available, ensuring a good marketing education needn’t break the bank. The options include U.S. Department of Education loans and grants.

Careers in marketing

There are a huge range of careers in marketing, and the classes offered in bachelor’s in marketing programs reflect this. Upon graduation there are several routes to choose from. You can work for a large company, specialized agency, or as a generalist working towards management within a smaller firm. Many marketing undergrads continue their education after a few years, either going on to get a master’s degree in marketing or more likely getting an MBA.